Method, device and system for coding, processing and decoding odor information

ABSTRACT

An odor analysis must be made before any device is capable of synthesizing an odor. Generally, odor analysis must result in an abstract device-independent odor representation that can easily be processed by various devices. Of course, this representation has to be detailed enough to be the basis for a synthesis of an odor by chemical or mechanical processes. The present invention provides a method for coding, processing (e.g. modifying/adapting) and decoding odor. The method according to the invention allows coding a representation of an odor in a digital form or odor information, respectively. This odor information can fulfil the demand of an abstract device-independent odor representation whereas the odor information shows a form adequate for communicating odor information even over a wireless communication network. According to further aspects of the invention, a device for sensing, coding and communicating odor and a device for receiving, decoding and generating odor is provided.

The present invention relates to a method, a device and a system forcoding and decoding of odor information. Particularly, the presentinvention relates to a method, a device and a system for efficientlycoding odor information comprising a large number of individual odorrepresenting values, for processing (e.g. adapting, modifying ormanipulating) odor information in an adequate way, respectively, and fordecoding

The spread of mobile devices, particularly mobile phone has dramaticallyincreased over the last years. In high industrialized countries thetotal number of mobile phones increased to an overall coverage of over80%. of the respective population of these countries. Additionally, thefunctionality of the mobile devices and mobile phones increasedsimultaneously offering for example communicational, entertaining andeducational capabilities. Today such capabilities are often distributedamong several specialized mobile devices. But it is apparent thatforthcoming mobile devices will cover a plurality of differentfunctional capabilities in the way, of complex integrated mobiledevices. Such complex integrated mobile devices may offer voicecommunication, data transfer and, in view of the fact that forthcomingmobile communication networks provide high data rates, multi-media datatransfer and playback.

The sensational experience of human beings in a certain environment isbased on all human senses and passes on a true and complete perceptionof the situation. Modern communication devices address in the firstplace the human senses of seeing and hearing involving multi-mediafeatures like audio and video playback. Also the human sense of touchfor example by including tactile feedback may be addressed. But up tonow the human sense of odor and tasting is neglected to a large extendalthough especially the odor sensation may offer in combination withvideo presentation an overwhelming complete live impression of a certainpresented ambience

The present invention will address a method, device and system allowingto offer odor sensation and perception in the environment of mobileterminal devices.

A number of patent documents relate to odor sensing, emitting and odordata transmitting, respectively.

WO 01/86986 A1 provides a method for retrieving and storing cipheredmulti-media data in a digital mobile phone and a digital mobile phonetherefor. The multi-media data is stored in a non-volatile detachablebuilt-in memory and is decoded by means of adapted specializedmulti-media decoder, like an image decoder, a voice decoder and thelike. Further, the multi-media data is preferably downloaded for anetwork, particularly for the Internet. The patent application relatesonly to a general decoding of the multi-media data comprised within adescribed overall multi-media data structure and does not relate to theprocess of coding, adapting and decoding of the multi-media data,especially odor information, itself.

EP 1 046 910 A2 provides a preferably palm-sized apparatus, especially acellular mobile phone, which is equipped with a functional unit able tomeasure gaseous components. The presented apparatus allows to analyzegaseous components and presents the analysis thereof to a user on adisplay of the apparatus. Again, the apparatus and the correspondingmethod do not address the coding of measured gaseous data involving forexample the obtaining of an implementation of independent representationof the gaseous data, the adapting and the decoding thereof

U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,857 provides a process and a device forsynchronously adding odors to visual and/or acoustic stimulation. Theprocess and the device relates preferably to the generation ofsimultaneous odor impressions in combination with cinema, theater,concert, slide show, video and lecture events. Adapted and adequatepre-prepared odor information is suitable synchronously providedtherefor. In particular, the process and the device are related tofunctionality and construction of an adequate odor exposing deviceoffering a realistic perception thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for coding anddecoding odor information, especially in view of communicating odorinformation between a transmitting odor sensing unit and a receivingodor emitting unit. Moreover, the communication is preferably performedemploying wireless communication networks and the coding of the odorinformation takes the relative narrow bandwidth of wirelesscommunication networks for data transmission and the relativecost-intensive communication of large amounts of data via wirelesscommunication networks into consideration.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a correspondingdevice and a corresponding system allowing to code and/or decode odorinformation according to the above described method.

The object of the present invention is solved by the accompanyingindependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention a method for coding, processing(e.g. adapting/modifying) and decoding of odor is provided. The methodcomprises the operative steps of coding an odor information, processingthe coded odor information and decoding the processed odor information.The odor information codes a data representation of an odor sensed bymeans of an odor sensing device. The odor information comprises at leastan odor type and a corresponding strength or intensity of this odortype. The odor type may be a certain chemical compound, a designation ofa class of chemical compounds or a designation of an aroma. The odorintensity may be a weighting value, an amount value or a similar valuerelated to the strength of the corresponding odor type. The odorintensity may be normalized. The processing of this coded odorinformation may comprise any kind of data processing known in the art,i.e. adapting according to a predetermined adapting rule, modifyingaccording to a predetermined modification or changing rule, or the odordata, e.g. strength or intensity or type may be processed in accordanceto an adapting instruction such as a mathematical relationship,optionally before or after being represented in a certain matrix orvector representation. Such mathematical relationship may comprise anormalization and/or modification of the originally obtained or thecoded odor information with respect to available odors when reproducingor generating the odor at a remote location. The decoding of the odorinformation may allow to obtain values or signals necessary to controlan odor generating device or odor emitting device having a limitednumber of basic odor aromas or substances.

The coding and processing may be carried out in different locations byseparate devices, but may also be carried out either at the samelocation, or by the same device or simultaneously. The coding may bedone upon processing, and the processing may be done upon coding.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of sensing odor by the means of an odorsensing device.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of analyzing said odor information,especially analyzing the sensor values obtained from an odor sensingdevice.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of analyzing said odor information, inorder to obtain an odor information based on a plurality of basic odoraromas. The plurality of basic odor aromas may be chosen such that someodors may be represented by a combination of basic odor aromas or aselection thereof. The combination may be based on weighting valuesrelated to different amounts of the basic odor aromas in order to definea representation of an odor. This kind of analysis of an odor may leadto a device-independent coding of odor.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of analyzing said odor information basedon an analysis comprising relevant ingredients. An analysis of relevantingredients may be based on a molecular or chemical compound analysis.Relevant ingredients may be molecules, chemical compounds or classes ofchemical compounds contributing to the sensed odor. The representationof the odor may be dependent on the number of relevant ingredients takeninto consideration.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of coding said odor information based on aplurality of basic odor aromas. This kind of coding of an odor may leadto a device-independent coding of odor.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of coding said odor information based on acoding comprising relevant ingredients. Preferably, the coding may be asubsequent coding of the relevant ingredients.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomposes an operational step of receiving odor information from the odorsensing device. The receiving may be operated in connection with a wiredconnection or a wireless connection.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, theoperational step of processing, e.g. adapting may further comprise anoperational step of adapting odor information in accordance with atleast one threshold value. This adaptation may be employed to limit thestrength or intensity of an odor coded in the odor information.Therefore, at least one threshold value may be defined.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, theoperational step of processing e.g. adapting or modifying may furthercomprise an operational step of replacing parts of the odor informationin accordance with a replacing rule. The replacing may be employed e.g.to eliminate parts of the odor information comprising the representationof unwanted or bad smelling odor. The pre-defined replacing rule maycomprise the corresponding instructions for operating the replacingoperation.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, theoperational step of processing may further comprise an operational stepof mapping the odor information in accordance with a mapping rule. Themapping may be employed e.g. to convert a coding based on a plurality ofbasic odor aromas into a coding based on a different plurality of basicodor aromas. The pre-defined mapping rule may comprise correspondinginstructions for operating the mapping operation.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of storing odor information.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of transmitting odor information to theodor emitting device. The transmitting may be operated in connectionwith a wired connection or a wireless connection.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the methodcomprises an operational step of generating odor by means of an odoremitting device.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, theoperational step of generating may further comprise an operational stepof adapting the odor information. The adaptation may be necessary toadapt the odor information to characteristics and properties of the odoremitting device. An adequate corresponding adapting rule may bepre-defined.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the odorinformation may be received and/or transmitted via a wirelesscommunication network.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a software tool foradapting odor information is provided. The software tool comprisesprogram portions for carrying out the operations of the aforementionedmethod for adapting odor information when the software tool isimplemented in a computer program and/or executed on a computer, aprocessing device or a mobile terminal.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a computer program foradapting odor information is provided. The computer program comprisesprogram portions for carrying out the operations of the aforementionedmethods for adapting odor information when the software tool isimplemented in a computer program and/or executed on a computer, aprocessing device or a mobile terminal.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a computer programproduct for adapting odor information is provided which comprisesprogram code portions stored on a computer readable medium for carryingout the aforementioned methods for adapting odor information when saidprogram product is executed on a computer, a processing device or amobile terminal.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a device for sensing,coding and communicating odor is provided. The device comprise an odorsensing unit, an odor coding unit and a transmitter. The odor sensingunit senses an odor and in connection with the odor coding unit thesensed odor is coded in an odor information in order to obtain a datarepresentation of the odor. This odor information is transmitted by thetransmitter of the device. The device may comprise a storage in order tostore an odor information. Preferably, the device for sensing, codingand communicating odor information may be a mobile device or a portabledevice.

The odor coding unit may provide the capability to operate theoperational steps of coding and processing described in connection withthe aforementioned method. The odor coding unit may further comprise thepossibility to analyze and/or adapt odor information. Again, The odorcoding unit may provide the capability to operate the operational stepsof adapting.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a device for receiving,decoding and generating odor is provided. The device comprises areceiver, an odor decoding unit and an odor emitting unit The receiverreceives an odor information comprising a data representation of anodor. The odor information is supplied to the decoding unit and theresulting decoded odor information is employed to instruct and controlthe odor emitting unit to generate an odor equal or similar to thedecoded representation of the odor. The device may comprise a storage inorder to store an odor information. Preferably, the device forreceiving, decoding and generating odor may be a mobile device or aportable device.

The odor coding unit may provide the capability to operate theoperational steps of coding and processing described in connection withthe aforementioned method. The odor coding unit may further comprise thepossibility to analyze and/or adapt odor information. Again. The odorcoding unit may provide the capability to operate the operational stepsof adapting.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a system forcommunicating odor information is provided. The system comprises adevice for sensing, coding and communicating odor, a transmitting meansfor transmitting said odor information and a device for communicating,decoding and generating odor. The device for sensing coding andcommunicating odor and the device for receiving/communicating, decodingand generating odor are described above.

The transmitting means may send, process and optionally receive the odorinformation previously coded by the corresponding device.

According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the systemfurther comprises a processing means for processing, e.g. adapting orchanging odor information. The processing means may provide thecapability to operate the operational steps of processing, adapting ormodifying described in connection with the aforementioned method and maybe comprised in the aforementioned transmitting means.

The invention will now be described referring to the drawings in whichlike references numbers represent corresponding parts throughout.

FIG. 1 shows an operational sequence of steps according to an embodimentof the method of the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows an operational sequence of steps in more detail accordingto a further embodiment of the method of the present invention,

FIG. 3 shows two possible coding sequences of odor information withrespect to the present invention,

FIG. 4 illustrates a timely sequence of the odor information processingwith respect to an embodiment the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement of communicating mobile devicesaccording an embodiment of the system of the present invention.

In the following description of the exemplary embodiments, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form part thereof, and in whichis shown a way of illustrating the specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized as structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an operational sequence of steps according to an embodimentof the method of the present invention. The FIG. 1 presents an overviewof the embodiment of the method for coding, adapting and decoding odorinformation. Several detailed description of the single operationalsteps will be described as indicated above in the following figures.

It may be assumed that an odor sensing unit or an odor sensing deviceprovides odor information, respectively. The structure and content ofthe sensed odor information may be based on the employed physical orchemical sensing and measuring method.

In a step S100, the sensed odor information is coded. The coding of theodor information may be performed with regard to a followingcommunication of the odor information and/or with regard to a followingadaptation of the odor information.

The general perception of odor sensed by a human being comprises in thefirst place an interaction of a plurality of chemical compoundsinteracting with distinct specialized human receptors. The number ofspecialized human receptors involved in the recognition of odor by ahuman is very large such that the electronic sensing of an odor and thesubsequent generation of an odor based on a selection of aromas isdifficult if the sensed odor and the odor sensation caused by thegenerated odor shall match or at least compare.

Preferably, an analysis of an odor may result in an abstract, odorrepresentation. The representation should allow to be processed byvarious devices, wherein a device-independent odor representation may beadvantageous. Thus, the sensing of odor, preferably by an electronicodor sensor, provides a large number of individual measurement valuesrelating to e.g. the kind of chemical compounds and to a kind of odorstrength or compound concentration, respectively.

The sensing of odor may be based on a sensory array, wherein each arrayelement of the sensory array is dedicated to a specific chemicalcompound or a class of chemical compounds and senses an intensity valueor a concentration value of this specific chemical compound. Such asensory array specialized for sensing chemical compounds contributing tothe odor sensation may be termed as electronic nose.

Further, a spectral analysis may be performed to identify the chemicalcompounds and their concentration contributing to the odor sensation.Chemical compounds may be identified by the means of a spectral analysison the basis of spectrally active parts of the chemical compounds.

According to the above described idea of a device-independent odorrepresentation and in view of a following generation of a similar odorby an odor emitting unit or an odor emitting device, respectively, itmay be advantageous to analyze and code the sensed odor based on aplurality of basic aromas also termed as categories. This kind of odorprocessing may lead to a set of data representing the odor.

With regard to a communicating of the sensed and analyzed odor theresulting odor information may comprise a plurality of measured odorintensity values assigned to a certain chemical compound or category.Due to the amount of data included in the odor information an adaptedand preferably packed coding for transferring the odor information mayhave to be chosen, especially sparse and redundant information mayshould be avoided.

The step S100 results in a representation of an odor sensation codedelectronically for subsequent adaptation and for decoding in order togenerate an odor of equal or similar odor sensation. The representationof an odor coded electronically may be termed in the following as odorinformation. The odor information comprises at least one odor type and acorresponding strength. Normally, odor information may comprise severalodor types and corresponding strengths in order to subsequently enable ageneration of an odor of similar, or equal odor sensation by an odoremitting unit or odor emitting device.

In a further step 120, the electronically coded odor information may beadapted. The processing may comprise a selective modifying of the odorstrength, a replacing of parts of the odor information resulting in thereplacing of for example unwanted odor composites and a mapping of odorinformation for example to adapt the odor information to the propertiesof a certain odor emitting unit or odor emitting device, respectively.

The odor sensation can have several levels of strength. The strength ofodor sensation may vary within a range from barely noticeable overclearly noticeable and strong noticeable to an unbearable odorsensation. Therefor, it may be advisable to provide a modification ofthe odor strength. The odor strengths may be modified by scaling or bylimiting odor strengths with respect to threshold values.

The sensory effect of odor may differ from human to human. An odor maysmell really good to a human whereas the same odor may smell really badto another one. Different odor sensations invoke different positive ornegative associations. Therefore, it may be advisable to provide areplacement or deletion of a corresponding odor information or a partthereof. The replacing may comprise a total blocking of certain odorinformation of certain parts within the odor information.

The mapping of odor information in accordance with a correspondingmapping rule may comprise the above described modifying, replacingand/or blocking. A mapping operation may allow additionally to map anodor based on a selection of basic aromas to an odor based on an new anddifferent selection of basic aromas.

In a further step 140, the odor information may be decoded. The decodedodor information may be supplied to an odor emitting unit or device,respectively. The decoding of the odor information may comprise amapping of the odor information into a representation which may beinterpreted properly by an odor emitting unit. The mapping may bepreformed analog to an adapting operation described above with referenceto step S120.

The odor emitting unit may generate an odor by mixing different basicaromas. The aromas may have to be physically or chemically treatedbefore or during the mixing process. Such treatment information may beobtained by decoding odor information.

FIG. 2 shows an operational sequence of steps in more detail accordingto a further embodiment of the method of the present invention. Theoperational sequence of FIG. 2 describes the operational sequencepresented in FIG. 1 in more detail.

Each operational steps S100, S120 and S140 shown in FIG. 1 may bedivided into several sub-steps. The operations assigned to each sub-stepwere introduced in FIG. 1 and the corresponding description of FIG. 1. Adetailed description to the single sub-steps follows below.

In a sub-step S100.1 an odor is sensed. As described above, an odor maybe sensed by the means of a dedicated odor sensory array or by the meansof a spectral analyzer.

Sensory arrays are often based on a physical adsorption of the chemicalcompounds on a particular prepared surface. Preferably, a physicalquantity is changed in dependence to the amount of adsorbed chemicalcompounds such that the change in the physical quantity which isdetected is related to the concentration and therefor also to the odorintensity of the chemical compounds. A sensory array comprises aplurality of different sensory elements each dedicated to a certainchemical compound. Further, a sensory element may be dedicated to acertain class of chemical compounds, which contribute equal or similarto an odor sensation and may be measured by same sensory element due tosimilar or same interaction with the corresponding sensory element.Consequently, the number of measuring values may be given by the numberof sensory elements, wherein the properties of the sensory elementsdefine the chemical compounds which may be sensed and therefor also akind of resolution or granularity of the sensory array for sensing odor,respectively.

A spectral analyzer operates on the basis of a spectral analysis oflight-irradiated chemical compounds. Chemical compounds are irradiatedby light and resulting characteristic spectral lines allow to indicateand identify the chemical compounds. The concentration of these chemicalcompound may be obtained from the spectral line width. Thus, the odorsensation is sensed by separating the odor into its several ingredientsor chemical compounds, respectively. The spectral analyzer may offer thepossibility to sense and identify a wide range of different chemicalcompounds and the number of chemical compounds which can be sensed andidentified is only defined by the analysis of the gained characteristicspectrum. Chemical compounds of a class effecting a similar or equalodor sensation may be grouped together gaining a common measurementvalue.

In a sub-step S100.2, the sensed measurement values of the odor may beanalyzed. The distinguishing between sensing and analyzing may bedifficult and is dependent on the method for sensing odor. The analyzingmay comprise a post-treatment of the sensed measurement values or apreparation for a following adaptation or coding of the odorinformation.

A post-treatment of the measurement data may comprise a selection of themeasurement values. In case of a spectral analysis, sensed measurementvalues which do not contribute to the odor may have to be separated fromsensed measurement values which relate to odor. Further sensedmeasurement values may be separated additionally into relevant and nonrelevant measurement values, wherein the relevance may be defined inaccordance with the odor to be sensed. In comparison with the abovedescribed electronic nose a spectral analysis allows to sense moreexactly the composition of an odor but the amount of resulting data maybe enormous.

An analyzing process of special interest may be the obtainment of deviceindependent odor information from the measurement. For this, thedescription of odor based on a pre-defined selection of odor aromas orcategories, respectively, may be advantageous. The basic idea is thatodor may be generated by mixing a selection of basic aromas which ise.g. comparable to the generation of different colors obtained byadditive mixing red, green and blue light, normally used to generatecolor images on computer displays. The number of basic aromas is notlimited. Since the mixing of aromas for generating odor is much moredifficult than the additive color mixing, the higher the number of basicaromas for mixing the more similar the resulting generated odorsensation. The basic aromas may be termed in the following descriptionas categories.

Preferably, the categories may be composed such that a large number ofodor sensation is possible to be generated by for example mixing thecategories in an adapted atomizer. Further preferably, the categoriesmay be subjected to an odor subject such as nature, perfume or flowers.An odor subject may limit the number of odor sensations but may allow amore realistic generation of the respective odors.

Further, the coding of odor sensation based on categories may offer thepossibility to provide a resulting odor information independent of theodor sensing unit and independent of the basic physical or chemicalmeasuring method. Additionally, the selection of the categories may beespecially chosen in order to provide an adequate based odor informationwhich may be converted into device-dependent representations without toomuch differences in the resulting generated odor sensation.

Moreover, the analyzing and coding of an odor based on a plurality ofcategories may additionally offer the possibility to provide odorinformation of different complexity or resolution. According to thedesired and/or required precision of the odor coding the number of thecategories may be adapted. A relative low number of categories may offera simplification of the real complex odor, wherein the low number ofcategories provide an easy to handle coding. With increasing number ofcategories the coding of the odor converge towards the real complexodor, but the increasing number of categories means that a handling ofthe odor coding, such as communicating or manipulating, increases in thedifficulty, wherein the increase in view of the manipulating may be morethan proportional.

In a sub-step S100.3, the coding of the odor information may comprise anadapting of the odor information. The adapting may be analog to theadapting described above with reference to step S120 illustrated FIG. 1and FIG. 2 and further described below with reference to the sub-steps5120.1, S120.2 and S120.3 illustrated FIG. 2. A detailed description maybe looked up in the corresponding text passages.

The above described sub-steps S100.1, S100.2 and S100.3 maybe comprisedby the operational step S100. This operational step results finally inproviding an odor information. The odor information comprises data whichallows to generate an odor by the means of an odor emitting devicesimilar or equal to the sensed odor.

The following sub-steps S120.1, S120.2 and S120.3 describe possibleoperations which may be covered by an adapting operation of odorinformation shown in step S120 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Theadapting operations may not be limited or restricted to the followingpresented operations.

In a sub-step S120.1, the odor information may be limited. The limitingmay relate to the strength of an total odor sensation or the strength ofingredients of the total odor sensation. According to the descriptionabove an odor normally comprises odors of a plurality of ingredients.Further, the strength of odor sensation differs upon humans. Anindividual adaptation of the strength is advantageous. Therefor, thelimiting may offer the possibility to modify the strength coded in theodor information. Moreover, since the odor information codes acomposition of different ingredients the limiting may be related to oneor several selected ingredients.

A threshold value may define a maximal valid strength of an odor. Incase that the total odor strength extends this threshold value the codedstrength values may be reduced such that the threshold value is an upperlimit of the odor strength. Similarly, a plurality of threshold valuesmay define maximal valid strength of odor strengths coded within theodor information. A scaling value may limit the strength of an odor byscaling the total strength. Similarly, a plurality of,scaling values maylimit distinct odor strengths coded within the odor information.

In a sub-step S120.2, the odor information may be replaced. Thereplacing may be employed to replace one or several ingredients codedwithin the odor information. The replacing may be based on a functionalrelationship linking the original odor information and the resultingmodified odor information. The functional relationship may bepre-defined or may be defined by a user during the adapting operation.Moreover, the replacing may be operated in accordance to a certainreplacing rule, which may be preferably stored in a database andretrieved therefrom for employing.

In a sub-step S120.3, the odor information maybe mapped. The mapping ofthe odor information may cover a wide range of different adaptingobjects. For example, the mapping operation may be employed to adapt anodor information to characteristics and/or properties of an odoremitting unit or device, respectively. The mapping may be based on afunctional relationship linking the original odor information and theresulting modified odor information. The functional relationship may bepre-defined or may be defined by a user during the adapting operation.Moreover, the mapping may be operated in accordance to a certain mappingrule, which may be preferably stored in a database and retrievedtherefrom for employing.

The respective adapting operation may be defined by correspondingadapting rules. These rules may be defined by a user or may bepre-defined. Rules defined by a user may allow a user to adapt theresulting generated odor to his personal preferences and wishes. Moredetailed description and examples of the adapting operation will followbelow.

Pre-defined adapting rules may be employed to adapt an odor emittingunit or device to an odor sensing unit or device. For example, a codingof odor information of an odor sensing device may be based on aplurality of categories. The generation of an odor sensation may bebased on a selection of odor aromas. But the categories and the odoraromas differ from each other. In such a case the odor information basedon the plurality of categories may have to be mapped to the present odoraromas available for generating the odor sensation. The mapping may beperformed in accordance with a corresponding mapping rule or adaptingrule, respectively, which may be provided by the manufacturer of theodor emitting device or the supplier of the odor aromas to be used withthe odor emitting device.

Additionally, the adapting rules may vary in time.

In a sub-step S140.1, the decoding of the odor information may comprisean adapting of the odor information. The adapting may be analog to theadapting described above with reference to step S120 illustrated in FIG.1 and FIG. 2 and further described above with reference to the sub-stepsS120.1, S120.2 and S120.3 illustrated FIG. 2. A detailed description maybe looked up in the corresponding text passages.

In a sub-step S140.2, the odor emitting unit may generate an odor bymixing different basic aromas. The basic aromas may be physically mixedor may chemically react. The mixing is controlled by the odorinformation, preferably, weighting values or values of the amount may becomprised in order to control the mixing of the aromas. A detaileddescription of an odor emitting unit or device will follow below,respectively.

In a step S110 or in a step S130, the odor information my becommunicated. The communication of the odor information may be employedif the sensing device and the generating device are single separateddevices. The communication of the odor information maybe based on awired or a wireless communication connection.

FIG. 3 shows two possible coding sequences of odor information withrespect to the present invention. The illustrated coding may beadvantageous for communicating odor information, particularly forcommunicating odor information via a wireless communication network.

A first coding sequence may describe the coding of an odor informationcomprising a set of categories according to the description of thecategories above. The set of categories may be illustrated by a vector100 comprising several vector elements. Each vector element may beassigned to a certain category and the value of each vector element mayrepresent the amount of the basic aroma for mixing. Typically, thevector values may be quantized or normalized, respectively, i.e. thevector values vary in the range zero to one. More general, the odorinformation may be based on a time series of vectors 100, since the odorsensation may vary in time. FIG. 3 shows a sequence of three vectors 100in order to illustrate such a time series.

The first coding sequence may also represent a coding of an odorinformation based on sensing odor active chemical compounds. Each vectorvalue may be assigned to a certain chemical compound or a certain groupof chemical compounds. Those skilled in the art will easily apply thefollowing description of the first sequence on this sensing and codingmethod.

At a moment t_(a), a vector 100 may comprise a number of five differentvector values 101 relating to five corresponding categories. The vector100 may be comprised by the odor information. At this moment only thevector value s₄ may have assigned a non zero value, herein s₄=0.25.Accordingly, an odor emitting device may decode this vector and may beinstructed to generate an odor related to the corresponding category 4and related to the corresponding strength illustrated as vector values₄.

After a certain period of time T_(v) at a moment t_(b) a further vector100 may be coded comprising again five different vector values 102. Nowthree different vector values may be non zero, vector value s₁ may haveassigned s₁=0.5, vector value s₄ may have assigned s₄=0.25 and vectorvalue s₅ may have assigned s₅=0.05. Accordingly, an odor emitting devicemay decode this vector and may be instructed to generate an odor relatedto the corresponding categories 1, 4 and 5 related to the correspondingstrengths illustrated as vector values s₁, s₄ and s₅.

Again after a certain period of time T_(v) at a moment t_(c) a furthervector 100 may be coded comprising again five different vector values103. Now two different vector values may be non zero vector value s₁ mayhave assigned s₁=0.5 and vector value s₅ may have assigned s₅=0.05.Accordingly, an odor emitting device may decode this vector and may beinstructed to generate an odor related to the corresponding categories 1and 5 related to the corresponding strengths illustrated as vectorvalues s₁ and s₅.

The presented coding has the advantage that always a complete set ofcategories is transmitted within an odor information. In case of only asmaller number of coded categories the size of the corresponding odorinformation is neglectible. But with increasing level of detail the sizeof the odor information grows rapidly. Since odor sensation variessmoothly in time, a large number of redundant values may be transmitted.Especially, in case of coding odor information for transmitting viawireless communication networks, the size of the odor information may beexpensive for a user transmitting this.

Therefor, a second coding sequence is presented. The second codingsequence is distinguished by avoiding redundant information. The codingsequence comprises a time series of the data packets each comprising atype information and an intensity or strength information, respectively.The intensity or strength may be quantized or normalized, respectively.

In the beginning of the second coding sequence an odor sensing devicecoding the sequence may not sense any odor, such that the correspondingodor information does not contain any relevant values.

At a moment t₁, an odor sensor 1 of an odor sensing device may sense anodor. A normalized strength of the odor may be coded as an intensityI₁=0.5. The designation of the sensor and the corresponding sensedintensity value may be coded within a data packet 200. Accordingly, anodor emitting device may decode data packet 200 and may be instructed togenerate a corresponding odor. Further, the odor emitting device may beinstructed to generate the corresponding odor until the odor sensingdevice reports a change in the measurement value of sensor 1. The momentt₁ is the onset of the sensing of sensor 1.

Up to a moment t₂, the odor sensing device may sense a constantmeasurement signal of odor sensor 1. And also the other availablesensors may do not sense any changes. No further data packets are coded.

At a moment t₂, an odor sensor 4 of an odor sensing device may sense anodor. A normalized strength of the odor may be coded as an intensityI₄=0.25. The designation of the sensor and the corresponding sensedintensity value may be coded within a data packet 201. Accordingly, anodor emitting device may decode data packet 201 and may be instructed togenerate a corresponding odor. The moment t₂ is the onset of the sensingof sensor 4. Further, the odor emitting device may be instructed togenerate the corresponding odor until the odor sensing device reports achange in the measurement value of sensor 4. The generation of odoraccording to data packet 200 may be maintained.

At a moment t₃, an odor sensor 5 of an odor sensing device may sense anodor. A normalized strength of the odor may be coded as an intensityI₅=0.25. The designation of the sensor and the corresponding sensedintensity value may be coded within a data packet 202. Accordingly, anodor emitting device may decode data packet 202 and may be instructed togenerate a corresponding odor. The moment t₃ is the onset of the sensingof sensor 5. Further, the odor emitting device may be instructed togenerate the corresponding odor sensation until the odor sensing devicereports a change in the measurement value of sensor 5. The generation ofodor according to data packets 200 and 201 maybe maintained.

At a moment t₄, the odor sensor 4 of an odor sensing device may sense nomore odor. Correspondingly, a data packet 203 may be coded comprisingthe designation of the sensor and an intensity value zero to indicatethat the odor sensation according to sensor 4 may be stopped. The momentt₄ is the ending of the sensing of sensor 4. The generation of odoraccording to data packets 200 and 202 may be maintained.

At a moment t₄, the odor sensor 5 of an odor sensing device may sense achanged odor. A normalized strength of the odor may be coded as anintensity I₅=0.1. The designation of the sensor and the correspondingsensed intensity value may be coded within a data packet 204.Accordingly, an odor emitting device may decode data packet 204 and maybe instructed to generate a corresponding odor sensation of changedintensity. The odor sensation according to data packet 200 may bemaintained.

Between the moments t₁, t₂, t₃, t₄ and t₅ the odor sensing device maysense a constant measurement signals of the odor sensors such that nodata packets are coded and the odor sensing device is instructed tomaintain the generation of respective odor.

In order to illustrate the advantage of the second code sequencepreventing redundant data the described sensor may be assigned to thecategories described in combination with the first code sequence suchthat the coded odor information may be comparable on the time axis. Themoment t₁ may shall take place before the moment t_(a), whereas themoments t₂ and t₃ shall take place between the moments t_(a) and t_(b)and the moments t₄ and t₅ shall take place between the moments t_(b) andt_(c). Both sequences effect the same odor generated by an odor emittingdevice. But the amount of data coded in the first sequence and handedover to the odor emitting device is larger than in the second sequence.On the other hand, the number of coded odor information packets is lowerin the first sequence.

The coding in accordance with the second coding sequence may not only beadvantageous with regard to preventing redundant information but also inview of the above mentioned spectral analysis. The spectral analysissuch as a full spectroscopy may allow to approach a complete analysis ofan odor based on all relevant ingredients. Such a complete analysis maybe based on a complete determination of the molecular composition of theodor. The different odor active molecules being sensed may be far largerin their number than any coding based on aforementioned categories. Thecoding of an odor information may comprise the total spectral analysis.With reference to the first coding sequence, a vector value is assignedto each ingredients which may be sensed. Conveniently, the resultingvector may have an enormous number of elements and communication of suchan odor information may be at least ineffective but may be also tootime-intensive or just impossible. Moreover, such a vector may bepopulated sparsely and ineffective.

In the following text sections a possible mathematical representation ofthe adapting operation will be given. The mathematical representationmay be described in combination with the coding of the odor informationmentioned in connection with the first coding sequence described in FIG.3. The mathematical representation of the odor information as a vectormay be used. Again, the odor information may be coded on the basis ofbasic aromas or categories, respectively. The vector representation maybe denoted as a vector a(t) comprising n vector elements according to acoding of the odor information based on n categories. The vector a(t)may be time-depending in accordance with the time-series aforementioned.The vector a(t) may be denoted as follows: ${a(t)} = \begin{pmatrix}{a_{1}(t)} \\{a_{2}(t)} \\\vdots \\{a_{n}(t)}\end{pmatrix}$wherein a_(i)(t)ε[0,1] ∀i due to the normalized aroma strengths of thesingle basic aromas or categories, respectively.

The adapting of the odor information comprising e.g. a scaling of theodor strength, a replacing of categories or a mapping of categories maybe denoted mathematically as a matrix operation, representing a linearrelationship of the original odor information denoted as vector a(t) andthe adapted odor information denoted as vector a′(t). The followingexpressing may show a corresponding relationship:a′(t)=M a(t)

The resulting adapted odor information vector a′(t) may comprise anumber of m vector values a_(l)′(t). These m vector values may be alsorelated to a selection of m basic aromas or categories.${a^{\prime}(t)} = \begin{pmatrix}{a_{1}^{\prime}(t)} \\{a_{2}^{\prime}(t)} \\\vdots \\{a_{m}^{\prime}(t)}\end{pmatrix}$wherein a_(i)(t)ε[0,1] ∀i due to the normalized aroma strengths of thesingle basic aromas or categories, respectively.

In a first case the number of vector values a_(i)(t) and the number ofvector values a_(i)′(t) may be equal, each odor information vectors a(t)and a′(t) may comprise n vector values a_(i)(t) or a_(i)′(t),respectively.

Different matrices M may be defined for adapting. In the following anexemplary selection of possible matrices may be presented.

EXAMPLE Identity Matrix

$M = \begin{pmatrix}1 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\0 & 1 & \cdots & 0 \\\vdots & \vdots & ⋰ & \vdots \\0 & 0 & \cdots & 1\end{pmatrix}$

The identity matrix converts the odor information vector a(t) into theadapted odor information vector a′(t) without any changes in the vectorvalues. The resulting adapted odor information vector a′(t) is equal tothe original odor information vector a(t).

EXAMPLE Scaling Matrix

${M = \begin{pmatrix}m_{1} & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\0 & m_{2} & \cdots & 0 \\\vdots & \vdots & ⋰ & \vdots \\0 & 0 & \cdots & m_{n}\end{pmatrix}},{{{with}\quad m_{i}} \in {\left\lbrack {0,1} \right\rbrack.}}$

The main diagonal elements of the matrix may be set to values in therange of zero to one. The non main diagonal elements may be set to zero.From above defined relationship between odor information vector a(t) andadapted odor information vector a′(t) may follow, that each matrixelement m_(i) is linked to the corresponding vector element a_(i)(t).Preferably, the vector elements of the resulting adapted odorinformation vector a′(t) may be expressed as a_(i)′(t)=m_(i)·a_(l)(t)which represents a linear scaling of each vector element a_(i)(t).

Main diagonal elements may be set to zero in order to block completelycertain vector elements. The Blocking of a vector element may result ina removing of basic aromas or categories from the odor information,respectively.

EXAMPLE (n-n)-Mapping Matrix

${M = \begin{pmatrix}m_{11} & m_{12} & \cdots & m_{1n} \\m_{21} & m_{22} & \cdots & m_{2n} \\\vdots & \vdots & ⋰ & \vdots \\m_{n\quad 1} & m_{n\quad 2} & \cdots & m_{nn}\end{pmatrix}},{{{with}\quad m_{i}} \in {\left\lbrack {0,1} \right\rbrack.}}$

Substitution of basic aromas or categories by more favorable ones may becontrolled by setting non main diagonal elements of the matrix M,respectively. A setting of the non main diagonal elements to non zerovalues may allow to linearly map a basic aroma to a linear combinationof several basic aromas. Preferably, the matrix M is a square matrix M,such that the resulting adapted odor information vector a′(t) comprisesthe same number n of vector elements according to the original odorinformation vector a(t).

EXAMPLE (n-m)-Mapping Matrix

${M = \begin{pmatrix}m_{11} & m_{12} & \cdots & m_{1n} \\m_{21} & m_{22} & \cdots & m_{2n} \\\vdots & \vdots & ⋰ & \vdots \\m_{m\quad 1} & m_{m\quad 2} & \cdots & m_{mn}\end{pmatrix}},{{{with}\quad m_{i}} \in {\left\lbrack {0,1} \right\rbrack.}}$

A more general definition of the mapping matrix M comprises arectangular (m-n)-matrix M linking the original odor information vectora(t) comprising n vector elements a_(i)(t) to an adapted odorinformation vector a′(t) comprising m vector elements a_(i)′(t). Such amatrix definition may be employed to convert an odor information basedon a selection of n basic aromas or categories to an odor informationbased on a selection of m different or partly different basic aromas orcategories. For example, the conversion into an other combination ofbasic aromas may be performed in order to adapt odor information sensedby an odor sensing device to the properties of an odor emitting devicebased on emitting a mixture of aromas during the decoding of the odorinformation. The rectangular (m-n)-matrix M covers also theaforementioned examples.

The presented relationship for describing the adapting of an odorinformation bases on a linear linking of the odor information and thederived adapted odor information. Non linear relationships may alsoemployed for linking. The presented matrix M also offers a simple andmanageable representation of the adapting rules to a user, especially ifthe user may be allowed to define adapting rules according to hiswhishes and desires. The number of matrix values are assessable. Itshall be noted, that the presented mathematical notation was only usedto describe the adapting operation in an easy understandable manner andmay not be limiting.

Principle, the adapting of odor information according to theaforementioned description may be preferably employed in case of odorinformation comprising a fixed and limited number of values as it is incase of odor information based on basic aromas or categories.

Additionally, the adapting operation comprise access to a database. Thedatabase may provide corresponding adapting rules. The database mayprovide adapting rules of the kind presented above in the representationof the matrix M. A providing of the adapting rules by a database may bepreferable if the size of the rules is big, i.e. if the correspondingmatrices M comprise a larger number of setted values.

The providing of adapting rules may be also advantageous in connectionwith a coding of the odor information in accordance with the secondcoding sequence illustrated in FIG. 3. The database may provide mappingrules to generate an odor by an: odor emitting device based on aplurality of basic aromas. Due to the fact, that the odor of a largenumber of different substances coded in the odor information may besimulated by mixing the basic aromas the trapping rules comprised in adatabase may be provided in combination with the respective set of basicaromas in order to obtain an adequate result. The aim of the mapping maybe a closest as possible representation of the odor of the codedsubstances.

The adapting rules may vary in time.

The following FIG. 4 illustrates a timely sequence beginning with thesensing of an odor by an odor sensing device and finishing with thegenerating of an odor by an odor emitting device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a timely sequence of the odor information processingwith respect to an embodiment the invention. The FIG. 4 illustrates anodor sensing unit 300, a processing unit 400 and an odor emitting unit500. The processing unit 400 may be integrated in a device comprisingthe odor sensing unit 300 or the odor emitting unit 500. Further, theprocessing unit 400 may be also integrated in a separate device. Hereinit may be assumed without limiting the scope of the invention that theodor sensing unit 300, the processing unit 400 and the odor emittingunit 500 may be integrated in different separate devices.

The following described operational steps are related to the operationalsteps described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.Additionally, the operational step of coding and a resulting timelysequence of odor information is described in detail with reference toFIG. 3.

At the beginning of the shown timely sequence in a step S200, an odormay be sensed by the odor sensing unit. The sensing of the odor may beobtained by employing one of the aforementioned odor sensing units ordevices, respectively.

In a step S210 and S220, the measurement values according to the sensedodor may be analyzed and coded. The analyzing and coding may beperformed with regard to a following communicating of the gained odorinformation.

In a step S225, the resulting odor information may be communicated tothe processing unit 400. The communicating may be based on a wiredconnection or a wireless connection. Preferably, the wireless connectionmay be based on a wireless communication network such as a cellularmobile communication network. Therefore, the odor sensing unit 300 maybe connected to a transmitter able to transmit via the correspondingused communication connection.

In a step 230, the odor information may be received by the processingunit 400 from the odor sensing unit 300. Therefore, the processing unit400 may be connected to a receiver able to receive the communicated odorinformation. The odor information may be adapted in accordance with anadequate adapting rule.

In a step S235, the resulting adapted odor information may becommunicated to the odor emitting unit 500. Analogously, thecommunicating may be based on a wired connection or a wirelessconnection. Preferably, the wireless connection may be based on awireless communication network such as a cellular mobile communicationnetwork. Therefore, the processing unit 400 may be connected to atransmitter able to transmit via the corresponding used communicationconnection.

In a step S240, the odor information may be received by the odoremitting unit 500 from the processing unit 400. Therefore, the odoremitting unit 500 may be connected to a receiver able to receive thecommunicated odor information. The odor information may be decoded inorder to be applied for the following odor generation.

In a step S250, an odor may be generated based on the decoded odorinformation. Preferably, the generated odor may be as similar aspossible to the odor sensed. Usually, an odor may be generated byemitting a mixture of different aromas.

Additionally, the operational step S220 of coding may comprise anadapting operation. The adapting operation may be advantageous forobtaining device independent odor information. A suitable method forobtaining this device independent odor information may be an adaptingand coding of the sensed odor based on a plurality of basic aromas. Thenumber of basic aromas may Further additionally, the operational stepS240 of decoding may comprise an adapting operation.

The adapting operation may be advantageous for adapting the odorinformation coded according to the properties and characteristics of theodor sensing unit or device to the properties and characteristics of theodor emitting unit or device

Further additionally, the operational steps S230, S220 and/or S240 maycomprise an accessing of a database for obtaining information due to thecoding, decoding and/or adapting.

FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement of communicating mobile devicesaccording an embodiment of the system of the present invention. The FIG.5 illustrates a first mobile device 600 connected to an odor sensingunit 610 and a second mobile device 700 connected to an odor emittingdevice 710.

The first mobile device 600 connected to the odor sensing unit 610 maybe employed for sensing, analyzing and coding an odor for a followingtransmission of the resulting odor information.

The odor sensing unit 610 may be based on different methods for sensingan odor. A first preferable method for sensing odor may be a sensoryanalysis. The sensory analysis employs e number of sensors which areprimarily specialized and detected in sensing substances or a class ofsubstances. Each sensor may be designed for sensing an intensity of onesubstance or one class of substances, respectively. Consequently, themore sensors are involved in sensing the more representative in themeasurement result, since it includes more odor relevant substances. Asecond preferable method for sensing odor may be a spectral analysis.The spectral analysis allows to sense a large number of substances by,the means of evaluating spectrums by illuminating with light of certainwavelengths. The sensed odor is separated into its ingredients by usingfor example a real-time spectral analyzer.

The sensing unit 610 may be designed as a mobile analysis module. Themobile analysis module may be small enough to be built in a mobiledevice, e.g. a mobile phone or a palm sized personal digital assistant.The analysis of odor may be possible at any time and at any place. Odormay be analyzed by holding a device integrating the mobile analysismodule close to the odor source. The analyzing process may be initiatedby a user input, e.g. pressing a certain starting button. If theanalysis is finished the resulting odor representation may be storedand/or may be transmitted to another device, e.g. a device able togenerate an odor in accordance with the odor representation. Dependingon the application, a continuous analysis of odor, e.g. of theenvironment's odor, may take place in intervals. Further, the sensingunit 610 may be designed as a desktop analysis module. The desktopanalysis module may be small enough to be used on a desktop incombination with a personal computer or another adequate processingdevice. An odor source may have to be fixed on an object slide. Thisobject slide may be given to the analysis equipment that is built into abox. This box may be prepared with an object slide mounting that isclose to the analysis device. After the object slide may be fixed, theanalysis process can be started. The complete process may be controlledby the personal computer that is connected to the desktop analysismodule. If the analysis is finished, the resulting odor representationcan be shown on the computer's display and can be stored to disk. Thecomputed odor representation can easily be transferred to a mobiledevice, e.g. via SMS or transfer cable.

Both the mobile analysis module and desktop analysis module, which mayeither use the sensory or spectral analysis, compute an odorrepresentation. Preferably, the computed odor representation may bebased on the ideas of the coding that are presented and described above.Conveniently, processing capability for analyzing and coding therepresentation of the odor may be provided. The processing capabilitymay be provided by an adequate processing unit or processing means,respectively, which may be integrated in the respective analysis moduleor which may be connected to the analysis module. For example, difficultand time-consuming processing operations may be operated on an externalprocessing device or means. Such a processing device may be connected tothe analysis module via a communication network.

Additionally, the mobile device 600 comprising the odor emitting unit610 may comprise at least a receiver and more generally a transceiver.The receiver may be employed to receive the odor information. Thereceiver or transceiver may be connected to a communication network,respectively. The communication network may be based on wired connectionor on wireless connection. A typical wired connection may be a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or a connection such as adedicated telephone line. A typical wireless connection may be acellular communication network e.g. based on the GSM (global system formobile communication) standard, the UMTS (universal mobile communicationstandard) standard or similar. Further a wireless communication networkmay be a Bluetooth network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) or aninfrared communication network. According to the illustration shown inFIG. 5, the communication capability may be provided by the mobiledevice 600.

The second mobile device 700 connected to the odor emitting unit 710 maybe employed for decoding and generating an odor in accordance with theodor information received.

The odor emitting unit 710 may be based on an aroma mixing and exposingmechanism. A number of aromas for example filled in separate flasks anda mounting device carrying the flasks may be provided. Preferably, theflasks may be detachable in order to vary the composition or in order toexchange flasks if the aromas are used up. In order to provide thepossibility to generate several different odors a defined number ofdifferent basic aromas may be mounted. A release mechanism may providefor the mixing and the exposing of the aromas. The specific amount ofthe aromas may be obtained from the odor information. Preferably, thearomas may be sprayed into a antechamber, collected and mixed thereinbefore exposing to the outside of the odor emitting unit 710. Thecontrolling of the complete operation of the odor emitting unit 710 maybe based on the odor information. Advantageously, it may be inevitableto define several base aromas that do not have to vary between thedifferent devices. This may allow checking the synthetic odor in advanceto receive best results

The odor emitting unit 710 comprising such an aroma mixing and exposingmechanism may be integrated into different devices. For example, theodor emitting unit 710 may be integrated into a mobile device. Asseparate accessory for mobile devices particularly mobile phones theuser may attach a new battery pack to his mobile device. Included heremay some flasks carrying base aromas. The number of base aromas mayvary. An equivalent implementation may be obtained by including theflasks with the basic aromas into the cover of the mobile device.Preferably, to enable the usage in mobile phones the mounting mechanismshall be shock proof to avoid any damage to the flasks.

Further, an odor emitting unit 710 may be integrated in or connected tofixed set up devices. For example, it may be possible to integrate anodor emitting unit 710 into an device for spreading odor within rooms orwithin complete houses. These devices may be controlled remotely bytransmission of odor information in accordance with the odor to bespread. A user may decide and activate such a device by employing hismobile phone able to transmit odor information before arriving at home.

Conveniently, processing capability for decoding the representation ofthe odor may be provided. The processing capability may be provided byan adequate processing unit or processing device, respectively, whichmay be integrated in the respective odor emitting unit 710 or which maybe connected to the odor emitting unit 710. For example, difficult andtime-consuming processing operations may be operated on an externalprocessing device. Such a processing device may be connected to theanalysis module via a communication network.

Additionally, the mobile device 700 comprising the odor emitting unit710 may comprise at least a receiver and more generally a transceiver.The receiver may be employed to receive the odor information. Thereceiver or transceiver may be connected to a communication network,respectively. The communication network may be based on wired connectionor on wireless connection. A typical wired connection may be a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or a connection such as adedicated telephone line. A typical wireless connection may be acellular communication network e.g. based on the GSM (global system formobile communication) standard, the UMTS (universal mobile communicationstandard) standard or similar. Further a wireless communication networkmay be a Bluetooth network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) or aninfrared communication network. According to the illustration shown inFIG. 5, the communication capability may be provided by the mobiledevice 700.

The illustrated mobile device 600 comprising the odor sensing unit 610and mobile device 700 comprising the odor emitting unit 710 providedifferent functionality related to the different comprised units. Itshall be noted that both the mobile device 600 or the mobile device 700may comprise an odor sensing unit 610 as well as an odor emitting unit710 such that both the mobile device 600 or the mobile device 700provide the capability to sense and to generate odor.

According to FIG. 5, the odor 810 of a flower 800 may be sensed by themobile device 600 and subsequently generated by mobile device 700. Theodor sensing unit 610 of the mobile device 600 may be employed to sensethe odor 810 of the flower 800. In accordance with the above presenteddescription, the odor may be sensed and analyzed and a correspondingodor information may be coded. The necessary processing operations maybe performed by the odor sensing unit 610 or may be also performed bythe mobile device 600. The odor information may offer a validrepresentation based on electronic data The odor information transmittedto the mobile device 700 or the odor information may be stored andforwarded later to the mobile device 700. Preferably, the odorinformation may be transmitted via a mobile communication network 650.The mobile device 700 may receive the odor information. The odorinformation may be decoded and finally the odor emitting unit 710 maygenerate an odor 820 in accordance with the received odor information.The necessary processing operations may be performed by the odoremitting unit 710 or may be also performed by the mobile device 700.

The sensing, analyzing and/or coding operation performed by the mobiledevice 600 and/or the odor sensing unit 610 may comprise access to afurther processing means 900. The processing means may offer processingcapabilities or may offer database access. The access to the processingmeans 900 may be established via a mobile communication network 651, areceiver 910 and a connecting communication network 905. The access tothe processing means 900 may allow to transfer operational steps to theprocessing means 900 or may offer the possibility to access datanecessary for the sensing, analyzing and/or coding.

The decoding and/or generating operation performed by the mobile device700 and/or the odor emitting unit 710 may comprise access to a furtherprocessing means 900. The processing means may offer processingcapabilities or may offer database access. The access to the processingmeans 900 may be established via a mobile communication network 652, areceiver 910 and a connecting communication network 905. The access tothe processing means 900 may allow to transfer operational steps to theprocessing means 900 or may offer the possibility to access datanecessary for the decoding and/or generating.

An adapting of the odor information may be operated and performed byeither the mobile device 600 or the mobile device 700. For example, auser receiving an odor information may ensure that the strength of thegenerated odor is not too strong. The user may be allowed to define acorresponding limiting rule or scaling rule on the mobile device 700 foradapting the odor information. Moreover, a user operating the mobiledevice 600 and controlling the odor sensing may ensure that the strengthof the sensed odor is lowered. Accordingly, the user may be allowed todefine a corresponding limiting rule or scaling rule on the mobiledevice 600 for adapting the odor information.

Further, the processing means 900 may be interposed in a transmission ofthe odor information between the transmitting mobile device 600 and thereceiving mobile device 700, wherein the processing means 900 can beintegrated in some transmission means, processing means or othercommunication means. The interposed processing means 900 may compriseadapting rules for example to protect the receiver of the odorinformation of bad odors or to strong odors. The interposed processingmeans 900 may also comprise adapting rules to adapt the odor informationsensed by the certain odor sensing unit 610 to the characteristics andthe properties of the odor emitting unit 710.

This specification contains the description of implementations andembodiments of the present invention with the help of examples. It willbe appreciated by a person skilled in the art, that the presentinvention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presentedabove, and that the invention can be also implemented in another formwithout deviating from the characteristics of the invention. Theembodiment presented above should be considered as illustrative, but notrestricting. Thus, the possibilities of implementing and using theinvention are only restricted to the enclosed claims. Consequently,various options of implementing the invention as determined by theclaims, including equivalent implementations, also belong to the scopeof the invention.

1. A method for processing odor information, comprising the steps of: coding odor information, said odor information comprising at least an odor type and a corresponding odor strength, processing said coded odor information by mapping parts of said coded odor information in accordance with a predefined processing rule for converting said coding, and decoding said processed odor information.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing of said coded odor information further comprises the step of: modifying said odor information in accordance with at least one threshold value.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing of said coded odor information further comprises the step of: scaling said odor information.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing of said coded odor information further comprises the step of: replacing parts of said odor information in accordance with a predefined replacing rule.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said coding further comprises the step of: sensing said odor information by means of an odor sensing device.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said sensing further comprises the step of: analyzing said odor information in order to obtain an odor information based on a plurality of basic odor aroma; and coding odor information based on said plurality of basic odor aroma.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said sensing further comprises the step of: analyzing said odor information based on a complete analysis comprising relevant ingredients; and coding subsequently odor information based on said relevant ingredients.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: receiving odor information from said odor sensing device
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said odor information is received via a wireless communication network.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: storing said odor information.
 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: transmitting said odor information to an odor emitting device.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said odor information is transmitted via a wireless communication network.
 13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: generating odor by means of said odor emitting device.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said generating of said odor information further comprises the step of: mapping parts of said odor information in accordance with a predefined mapping rule.
 15. A software tool for adapting odor information, comprising program code portions for carrying out the operations of claim 1 when said program is implemented in a computer program.
 16. A computer program for adapting odor information, comprising program code portions for carrying out the operations of claim 1 when said program is executed on a computer, a processing device or a mobile terminal.
 17. A computer program product for adapting odor information, comprising program code portions stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the operations of claim 1 when said program product is executed on a computer, a processing device or a mobile terminal.
 18. A mobile device for sensing, coding and communicating odor, comprising: an odor sensing unit for sensing odor and obtaining odor information; an odor coding unit for coding said odor information being sensed and obtained; processing means for processing said coded odor information by mapping parts of said coded odor information in accordance with a predefined processing rule for converting said coding, and a transmitter for communicating said processed odor information.
 19. A mobile device for receiving, decoding and generating odor, comprising: a receiver for receiving coded odor information; processing means for processing said coded odor information by mapping parts of said coded odor information in accordance with a predefined processing rule for converting said coding, an odor decoding unit for decoding said processed odor information; and an odor emitting unit for generating an odor on the basis of said decoded odor information.
 20. A system for communicating odor, said system comprising: a device for sensing, coding and communicating odor including; an odor sensing unit for sensing odor and obtaining odor information; an odor coding unit for coding said odor information being sensed and obtained; and a transmitter for communicating said coded odor information, processing means for processing said coded odor information by mapping parts of said coded odor information in accordance with a predefined processing rule for converting said coding, means for transmitting said processed odor information; and a device for receiving, decoding and generating said processed odor including: a receiver for receiving said processed odor information; an odor decoding unit for decoding said received odor information; and an odor emitting unit for generating an odor on the basis of said decoded odor information. 